3 high school football players die in 1 week after collapsing on field

Tom Cutinella

Frank Eltman / Associated Press

Tom Cutinella, a high school football player, died Wednesday in New York. Shoreham-Wading River Superintendent of Schools Steven Cohen, left, and high school Principal Dan Holtzman speak at a news conference Thursday.

Tom Cutinella, a high school football player, died Wednesday in New York. Shoreham-Wading River Superintendent of Schools Steven Cohen, left, and high school Principal Dan Holtzman speak at a news conference Thursday. (Frank Eltman / Associated Press)

3 high school football players have died in less than one week after collapsing on the field

A Long Island, N.Y., teen died Wednesday after colliding with an opponent during a high school football game. He was the third high school player in a week to die after being on the field.

Tom Cutinella, a high school junior and linebacker on the Shoreham-Wading River High School football team, collided with a player on the field around 6 p.m. during a game against John Glenn High School in Elwood, N.Y., and collapsed on the field, according to police and school district officials.

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FOR THE RECORD

12:48 p.m.: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the University of Michigan had played Rutgers during Saturday's game. Michigan played Minnesota.

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Cutinella was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery, said district spokeswoman Deirdre Gilligan. He was later pronounced dead.

He briefly walked off the field at one point but was put back in the game without being cleared by the team’s doctors, Athletic Director Dave Brandon said Monday.

University officials revealed Monday that Morris had suffered a “probable, mild concussion” and an ankle sprain. Initially head coach Brady Hoke had said, “We would never, ever put a guy on the field when there’s a possibility with head trauma.”

Students and fans have protested, camping out on the lawn of the University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel’s home, and demanding the ouster of Hoke and Brandon.

In a statement released Monday, Brandon said “there was a serious lack of communication that led to confusion on the sideline” Saturday.

Brandon said medical staff had not seen the hit and did not have access to replays to evaluate it. He said there was also miscommunication on the field that led to Morris being put back in the game before doctors could check him out.